Lawmakers could say no to union raises this year

Tuesday

SPRINGFIELD -- Illinois lawmakers could vote this week on a resolution that says the state will not pay any union wage increases in the current state budget.

SPRINGFIELD -- Illinois lawmakers could vote this week on a resolution that says the state will not pay any union wage increases in the current state budget.

The declaration is contained in an amendment to House Joint Resolution 45 that would set a limit on the raises the state will pay for.

Sponsored by House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, the proposed amendment says the state “shall appropriate no amount for new wage increases associated with any and all collectively bargained contracts throughout state government for the fiscal year 2013 budget. ...”

The state is in the middle of the 2013 budget year. It ends June 30, 2013.

Many of state government’s union contracts expired this past June 30, among them the agreement with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the largest state employee union. AFSCME’s contract often creates a pattern for contracts with other unions.

The Quinn administration initially insisted on a pay cut for AFSCME members, but has backed off that demand. It now wants a wage freeze for the life of the contract. The administration is also seeking $300 million in employee health insurance savings.

The House Revenue Committee held a hearing on the resolution Monday, but did not vote on it. The committee is scheduled to hold another hearing Tuesday.

“I don’t see this as a collective bargaining issue,” said committee chairman Rep. John Bradley, D-Marion. “This is a (budgetary) issue. The state has gotten into trouble making promises it could not keep.”

Committee members heard additional testimony Monday from officials with Gov. Pat Quinn’s administration outlining financial challenges facing the state. Budget director Jerome Stermer said rising pension costs, the still substantial bill backlog, and employee health insurance expenses are squeezing the state budget. He also said the Department on Aging needs more money for programs that enable seniors to stay in their homes and the Department of Children and Family Services needs additional funding for investigators.

Bradley said the numbers add up to billions of dollars the state must cover in just a few areas.

“We still have significant challenges, and those challenges continue to escalate exponentially,” Bradley said. “The state doesn’t have a money tree. If there are additional (spending) pressures given to us, we are putting everyone on notice that there is not additional money, and additional difficult choices will have to be made.”